MADISON, Wis. — Andre Hollins outplayed Traevon Jackson for the most part in the battle between the two starting sophomore point guards for Minnesota and Wisconsin on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Hollins proved he was the better player with 20 points. But when it came down to making plays in the clutch, Jackson was the one who delivered for his team.

Four of Jackson’s nine points came on two baskets in the final 1:03, including a jumper that rolled in after he used a pump fake to get open with four seconds left. That sealed the Badgers’ 45-44 victory over the No. 12 Gophers in front of 17,249 at the Kohl Center.

“I don’t have any fear,” said Jackson, the son of Big Ten Network analyst Jim Jackson, a former Ohio State All-American. “You’ve got to want the ball to help this team out.”

Hollins, who bounced back from his six-point, seven-turnover game in a 55-48 loss at Northwestern on Wednesday, had a chance to put the Gophers ahead before being called for charging on a drive with 39 seconds left. That was only his third turnover of the game, but it was a critical mistake.

“He pushed me in the back a little bit, but I went too deep,” Hollins said. “I should have just gotten a shot up. That would have been the best. In that situation, you just have to get the ball on the rim. It sucks to not have a shot attempt at all, and they come down and score. It was a big momentum changer in the game. My decision-making on that play was very poor. It was one of those little things that cost us the game.”

“That’s how you get beat, making mistakes like we’ve been making,” Smith said. “That’s a recipe for a loss, just not being disciplined defensively and not being disciplined offensively.”

Mbakwe leaves

For a second straight game, Mbakwe gave the Gophers a scare, writhing in pain late in the second half after hurting his right wrist.

After being fouled by Wisconsin’s Mike Bruesewitz on an inbounds pass with 1.8 seconds left, Mbakwe grabbed his wrist and winced as the team trainer came to inspect the injury. Mbakwe was supposed to shoot two free throws but was escorted to the bench.

“I really didn’t bend my wrist that much,” Mbakwe said. “I could have maybe wrapped it up. But at that time, we had confidence in Rodney being able to shoot them. He made the first one. I thought the second one was good, but it was a little long.”

Mbakwe first injured his wrist two weeks ago but aggravated it against Northwestern. He had ice on his hand after Saturday’s loss but said he “would not miss any games for this.”

Tough spot

Ryan called Williams a “great kid” and “fine young man.” They talked after the game.

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